The Scottish Football Association's Key Match Incident (KMI) Panel has ruled that Jack Butland's own goal in Rangers' 2-2 draw with Motherwell should have been allowed to stand. The incident occurred during the Premiership clash at Fir Park on Sunday, where Butland inadvertently punched the ball into his own net from a corner, only for referee Kevin Clancy to blow for a foul on the goalkeeper.
Rangers had fought back from 2-0 down to level the match through a double from Hamza Igamane. However, with the score at 2-1, Motherwell appeared to have regained the lead when Butland's mishap occurred. Clancy immediately ruled out the goal, citing a foul by Motherwell forward Tony Watt on Butland. The KMI Panel, in a 3-2 majority, deemed the on-field decision incorrect and believed VAR should have intervened to award the goal.
The panel's verdict stated: 'The majority (3:2) believed that VAR should have intervened and recommended an OFR for the goal to be awarded. Two members of the panel highlighted that they didn't think it was clear and obvious enough for VAR to get involved and the on-field decision should be supported.'
In another Premiership match, the KMI Panel also reviewed a controversial penalty decision in Hearts' 2-2 draw with Ross County. Hearts led 2-0 through a James Wilson double before James Penrice went down in the box under a challenge from Michee Efete. Referee Ross Hardie initially awarded a penalty but reversed his decision after a VAR review, deeming the foul occurred outside the area. Ross County then scored twice in injury time to snatch a point.
The KMI Panel, by a 4-1 majority, argued that Hardie's initial decision should have stood, as the foul continued into the penalty area. Their statement read: 'The four panellist agreed an initial foul had occurred outside of the penalty area, however they believed there was a further foul committed inside the penalty area and the original decision should have stood.'
